Park News
Winter 2005 Volume 15, No. 1
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Minidoka Internment National Monument
The Fossil Record
Monumental Mastodon Fossil Find!
D
iscovery of a mastodon tusk on BLM
property near the Hagerman Fossil Beds
National Monument has renewed interest
in what Phil Gensler, park paleontologist, considers
an underappreciated Idaho treasure. "We uncover
3,000 to 5,000 fossils here every year," he said. "This is
the richest fossil site in the world for its time period,
and people hardly ever come out here."
Best known for the Hagerman Horse, Idaho's
state fossil, the Fossil Beds have yielded specimens of
Pliocene Epoch animals from turtles to saber- tooth
cats. Mastodons are prehistoric relatives of modern
elephants. Discovery of a complete mastodon
skeleton would justify "a major dig," and could
provide new scientific insights.
There are different types of mastodons. This
fossil may be a Gomphothere that's been found in
Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California, but never
in Idaho. Finding a complete Gomphothere skeleton
would give scientists new insights on their range and
appearance.
To the average person, the tusk looks like a
partially exposed layer of rock. To Gensler, who
unearths thousands of fossils a year and all but
breathes prehistoric bones, it's a rare find. "This is
the largest piece I've found," he said, gesturing to
indicate a tusk several feet long. "Usually what we
find are little pieces. Look at this." He picks up an
inch-long fragment and cups it in his hand. "This
isn't tusk. This is bone. That means that there's a
chance there's more here."
The bluffs overlooking the Snake River didn't
exist during the Pliocene Epoch, 2 million to 5 million
years ago. The area then was a flat river delta leading
to prehistoric Lake Idaho. Lush from receiving twice
southern Idaho's current annual rainfall, the delta
teemed with animals from prehistoric rodents to
waterfowl to mastodons.
Gensler and his co -workers plan to begin
excavating the tusk soon. First, they'll dig around
the area. When the fossil is exposed, they'll brush
away as much dirt as possible and apply special glue
to keep the brittle material from breaking into small
pieces. Then they'll encase it with plaster and strips
of burlap. By then the whole thing will weigh
several hundred pounds.
After the plaster dries, they'll begin the
unenviable task of carrying it down the face of the
brushy, snake-infested bluff to a truck that will
carry the fossil to the lab. Removing the bones from
the plaster, cleaning them, and gluing them together
with anatomical accuracy could take decades.
Fossil Beds Visitor Center
T
' he Visitor Center is located at 221 North State
Street in Hagerman, Idaho. Come view our
improved DVD show on our big screen, enjoy
our fossil exhibits, Minidoka Internment National
Monument exhibit, and stop by the Natural History
Association bookstore. Entering the Visitor Center or
Monument is free. Winter hours are Thursday Monday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; closed Tuesday and
Wednesday. For more information visit our website:
www. nps.gov/hafo or call (208) 837 -4793 X5224.
Meet More of Our Team
Mary Carpenter poses with the Hagerman Horse and a Sabertooth Cat
M
ary Carpenter was born and raised in central
Wisconsin. She received an Associate Degree
in Graphic Arts. After several years as a
summer Earthwatch volunteer digging mammoths at the
Hot Springs Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD, she
moved to Flagstaff, AZ. She attended Northern Arizona
University (NAU), receiving a B.A. in Anthropology
(minor Geology), and a M.S. in Quaternary Sciences
(paleontology). She began her job as Fossil Preparator
with Hagerman Fossil Beds NM (HAFO) August 2004.
Her work at HAFO involves a variety of tasks.
Fossil preparation is her primary job but she also assists
with collections management (such as organization and
curation), field work (fossil survey, excavation, and
collection), fossil identifications, and some public
outreach. She thoroughly enjoys all aspects of her work.
Fossil preparation work is personally satisfying to her
and also scientifically important. The species
diversification at HAFO includes mice to mastodons as
well as the Hagerman horse (Equus simplicidens).
HAFO has fossils collected from the monument
which have yet to be prepared and identified. There is
likely enough work to keep her busy for quite a while!
Craig Christensen is a student at the University of
Montana working towards his bachelor degree in geology/
anthropology. Craig is interested in fossil vertebrates and
has been working several fossil localities in western MT.
He works as a curator at the Paleontology Museum at the
University of Montana. 2004 was the first year Craig
worked at Hagerman Fossil Beds. While picking sediments
from a locality within the monument, Craig recovered two
spores belonging to an aquatic plant called "stonewort".
This was the first evidence of this plant fossil found here.
Mark Hagge is a student at the University of
Wisconsin - Madison working towards a bachelor degree
in geology. Mark is interested in Hagerman area fossil
birds, the subject of his senior honors thesis. This was his
second year working at Hagerman Fossil Beds. Through
identifying fossil bird material, Mark discovered several
new bird fossils that are raptors (hawks, eagles, owls etc.).
Since raptors are rare as fossils at the Fossil Beds, Mark's
findings add new insight to the raptors that lived in the
Hagerman Valley over 3 million years ago.
Josh Samuels is working on his PhD at UCFA and
is studying fossil beaver. His dissertation discusses the
fossil beaver (Castor californicus) found at Hagerman. Josh
has worked at the Fossil Beds for five seasons and
continues to play a very important role in field collections,
curation, and fossil identification. For the past two years,
Josh has presented data from Hagerman at the Society of
Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) meetings.
Lisa McClellan w i t h her favorite horse.
I
Craig Christensen, Mark Hagge, and Josh Samuels 2004 Field Team
I
T he 2004 field paleo crew team was
instrumental in visiting no fossil localities within
jTie monument and curating over 3000 fossils.
page two
isa McClellan is the newest member to the
Hagerman Fossil Beds NM staff. She works
—/ for the maintenance program while pursuing her
Psychology degree from Idaho State University. Fisa
tracks maintenance project information, checks contract
work, and coordinates special projects. She helps with
our special interpretive programs as well!
Lisa currently resides in Hagerman with her
family. She is also a member of the Hagerman Fire
Department and the Hagerman Quick Response Unit.
She enjoys any time spent with her daughter, riding
horses, and reading.
r
Library Program
t artnering again with the Hagerman Library,
* n d Mrs. Wilma Butigan, Librarian, we will
offer a variety of programs during the cold and
bleak winter months.
Our first offering will be Lewis and Clark
Crossing the Centuries January 22nd 2 -3 p.m. in
the Visitor Center. This exciting film traces their
route from St. Louis, MO to Oregon's coast and
examines the changes 200 years have brought. Be
sure to check our web site (www.nps.gov/hafo) for
future updates.
We would like to extend our congratulations to
Mrs. Butigan. Hagerman Public Library was chosen
as Idaho's Public Library of the Year 2005!
Local Visitors
I
t's a common dilemma - tourists from all
over the world visit the Hagerman Fossil Beds
National Monument, but most of the Gooding
Soil Conservation District Supervisors had never
visited here. In July 2004, the District Supervisors
remedied this problem with a tour of the Visitor
Center and a demo of the mock excavation
educational program. The tour culminated with a
Horse Quarry tour.
Hagerman Fossil Beds
and
Minidoka Internment National
Monument's Greening
B
oth Hagerman Fossil Beds and Minidoka
Internment National Monuments are using
new and innovative technologies as part of
our commitment to environmental stewardship and
sustainability. The staff is looking for ways to reduce
our energy use, waste, and emissions.
Recycling of plastics, aluminum, paper, and
batteries is in place at headquarters. Recycling
containers have also been made available to park
visitors at the Visitor Center in Hagerman. Future
plans for waysides include benches and waste
receptacles that are built of recycled plastic that will
last two to five times longer than wood, metal, or
cement. Vaulted toilets made of recycled materials
will be installed at the overlooks.
Transportation within the park is another
big area of opportunity. We are trading out gasoline
vehicles with vehicles that have far fewer emissions.
Our Interpretation, Education and Administrative
staffs are now driving hybrid gas/electric cars.
What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car has both a gasoline engine and
an electric motor. The car's computer system
decides when to use which source of power sometimes using only the electric motor, sometimes
using only the gas engine, and sometimes using both.
A hybrid car never needs to be plugged in. These
vehicles are extremely fuel-efficient, have nearly
zero emissions, and fit most people's lifestyle and
driving needs.
Nan Reedy, Kay Hidts, Joe Pavkov, Daniel Butler,
Annette Rousseau(NPS), Bonnie Hansen
The Fossil Record by Email
"\"\7" 7"e a r e joining the 21st century and helping
\ JL / t o conserve our environment. The Fossil
V • Record can now be sent out by email. If
you would like to receive your copy by email let us
know at
. Include your name and
address and we will remove you from our regular
mailing list. Please be assured that we will provide
you only with the information you request and we
respect your right to privacy. If, at any time, you do
not wish to receive future copies, please let us know
and we will remove your name from our list.
page tnree
Upcoming Winter Programs
A
dd some excitement to those blah winter days!
Join us for some interesting and fun winter
, programs. Our popular 'Fun Friday February
Film Fest" returns with this year's theme of horses!
New program offerings:
Bats of Idaho, Dragonflies of Idaho
Burrowing Owls: learn about these fascinating birds in
the Magic Valley Region and the ongoing studies
Wildflowers of the Magic Valley Region: introductory
slide show geared for beginners or the casual enthusiast
Water Developments and Wildlife: Potential Death
Traps
Wind Power: How "Green" is Green?
Forgotten Lands- A Story of Southern Idaho: poetry,
prose, and a photographic journey through a landscape
A Sense of Place- Using Nature for Healing and Peace:
an exploration of "place" in nature and how it can
provide both healing and peace for our personal lives
Butterflies of Idaho, Birds of Idaho
Weed Awareness!
Dates and times to be determined.
Check our web site for further details.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Minidoka Internment National Monument
P.O. Box 570
Hagerman, ID 83332-0570
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300
Printing paid for by the Hagerman Fossil Council,Inc.
January 2005
Field Season 2004
F
or the 2004 field season, the Hagerman Fossil
Beds National Monument paleo crew collected
fossils at over ioo localities throughout the
monument. Along with NPS Park Paleontologist Phil
Gensler and Preparator Mary Carpenter, they explored
rarely visited areas of the park throughout the field
season and made some very unusual finds.
Early in the summer, the field crew found an
articulated skeleton of a suckerfish (family
Catostomidae). Most of the bones were not scattered
but found in their correct anatomical position. The fish
was plaster jacketed and brought back to the lab for
preparation and cleaning. An in situ specimen of
Clemmys owyheensis (a pond turtle) was found in the
sediment nearby. The field crew also found a jaw with
several teeth from Thomomys gidleyi (a pocket gopher)
and a jaw from Trigonictis idahoensis (a grison from the
weasel family). There were also significant bird fossil
finds, including bones from rails, ducks, Hibbard's
Swan, a cormorant, and a songbird the size of a sparrow.
A particularly rare find was a humerus from the
Hagerman mole, Scapanus hagermanensis, one of only a
handful of mole fossils ever found in Idaho.
STANDARD A
U.S. Postage
PAID
NPS Permit #G83
Hagerman, ID
83332
EXPERIENCE Y O U R
AMERICA7"